Folding table



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. J. MADDOX.

FOLDING TABLE.

Patented Aug; 8, 1893.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. J. MADDOX FOLDING TABLE.

No. 502,929. PatentedAu-g. a, 1893.

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5 j I Z J1 S mm||m|m UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

WILLIAM J. MADDOX, or 'JAMEsTowN, EW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE D. LANE, OF SUSQUEHANNA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,929, dated August 8, 1893.

Application filed December 5,1892. Serial No. 454,047. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. MADDoX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have. invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding tables of that class in which the folding legs are held in their open or unfolded position by rigid folding braces.

My invention has for its object to produce a strong table of simple construction, which can be cheaply manufactured.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of two sheets-Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the table, taken centrally through the same, and showing it unfolded. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the table showing it folded. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section in line 3-3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the table unfolded. Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the same folded.

Like letters of rcference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A is the bed or top of the table.

A are transverse vertical rails secured to the under side of the top and A are short longitudinal rails or angular portions extending inwardly from the ends of the transverse rails.

At or near each end of the table is arranged a pair of folding legs, B, which are rigidly connected together by a cross piece, 0. The legs of each pair are arranged with their upper portionscbetween the longitudinal portions of the end rails, A, and are pivoted to the table by horizontal screws 01 passing through said longitudinal portions and entering the adjacent portion of the legs as shown in Fig. 3, so that both sets of legs may be folded inwardlytoward the under sideof the table top, as shown in Fig. 2. The two pairs of legs are offset or arranged out of line, so as to clear each other when folded. The legs are pivoted at such a distance from the end rails, A, that when they are unfolded to a position at right angles to the table-top, their further outward movement is limited by the end rails.

E represents rigidinclined braces whereby the pivoted legs are firmly held in their unfolded position. Each of these braces is pivoted at or near its lower end to the cross piece 0 of the adjacentpair of legs, by an inclined screw or pin f, whereby the free end of the brace is permitted toswing laterally. The lower edge of the connecting piece of each pair of legs is beveled or inclined to correspond to the contiguous upper surface of the brace, as shown at g, in Fig. 1. The upper end of each brace, when in its normal posi tion, bears against a block or abutment H secured to the 'under side of the table-top, whereby the legs are prevented from swinging inwardly. The block H is formed in its outer side with a recess h which receives the upper end of the laterally folding brace and which opens at one end of the block, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, while its opposite closed end,

h, forms a shoulder or stop which limits the movement of the brace when it is swung into its unfolded position, as shown in Fig. 4. The bottom of each recess his inclined, as shown,

'to correspond to the contiguous upper end of the inclined brace. J

The table is readily folded by swinging the braces laterally and folding them under the beveled lower edges of the cross pieces 0, and then folding the legs inwardly, as shown in Fig. 2. When the table is folded, the inner leg of each pair. rests against the outer side of the cross piece connecting the other pair of legs.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a folding table, the combination with the top or bed provided on its under side with an abutment, of a pair of legs hinged to the under side of the top, a rigid cross piece connecting said legs and provided with a beveled lower edge, and a rigid inclined brace pivoted at its lower end to the beveled edge of said cross piece and capable of folding laterally, parallel with the cross piece, and adapted to bear with its free upper end against the abutment of the table top, substantially as set forth.

2. In a folding table, the combination with H the top or bed, of a block secured to the under side of the top and having a recess extending to one end thereof and provided with an inclined bottom, a pair of legs pivoted to the under side of the table top and connected by a rigid cross piece having a beveled lower edge, and a rigid inclined brace pivoted at its lower end to the beveled edge of the cross piece by an oblique pivot and bearing with its free upper end against the inclined bottom of said recess, substantially as set forth.

3. In a folding table, the combination with the top provided on its under side with transverse end rails having longitudinal portions at their ends, of a pair of folding legs, arranged on the inner side of each end rail between the longitudinal portions thereof, horiber, 1892.

WM. J. MADDOX. W'itnesses:

E. P. BAILEY, C. E. BAILEY. 

